Certified Nursing Assistant & Her Friend Indicted for Allegedly Conspiring to Post Photo of a Nursing Home Resident’s Genitalia Posted on Facebook

TRENTON - Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a certified nursing assistant who worked at a Livingston nursing home and her friend were charged today in a state grand jury indictment for allegedly conspiring to take a photograph of the elderly resident’s genitalia and having the photograph posted on Facebook.

Helien Williams, 26, and Michele Walker, 22, both of Newark, were both charged with third-degree conspiracy. Williams was additionally charged with two counts of third-degree invasion of privacy while Walker was charged with one count of third-degree invasion of privacy.

The indictment alleges that in January 2012, Williams, a certified nursing assistant who worked at CareOne at Livingston at the time of the alleged crime, took a photograph with her cell phone of an elderly resident’s genitalia and sent the photo to Walker. Walker allegedly then posted the photograph on her Facebook page. Williams was terminated from her position at CareOne at Livingston as a result of the alleged incident.

Deputy Attorney General Peter Sepulveda, Sgt. Patricia Yellen and Detective Ronald Allen were assigned to the investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi thanked CareOne at Livingston as well as the Livingston Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. He also thanked CareOne at Livingston for referring the matter to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

The indictment is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000.